Canadian airline set to offer $350 round trip fares to Ireland

WestJet, the second largest Canadian airline, is to offer an extension of its introductory fares for passengers flying from St John's Newfoundland to Dublin for about $350 for a return flight. The fares may now be offered from Shannon and Cork.

Passengers going on to Toronto will pay about $550. Tickets for its introductory fare, to begin in June, sold out on 110 flights.

A company spokesman told the Irish Independent that testing on the route went very well.

"It was a chance for us to test the waters, but we've never seen a new service sell that quickly before. "Within hours of the introductory fares going on sale they were all gone. The buzz about it was absolutely incredible.

"We are now considering whether to extend it to other airports in Ireland or the UK – that decision hasn't been made yet.

"But Dublin will be our first transatlantic venture and the consumer interest in Ireland has been astounding."

He added: "There are a lot of employment opportunities currently in Canada – so some of those travelling would be moving here for work – while others are family visiting loved ones in the country."